How are you going to deal with tougher games in the future? - Page 2

raze · #1 12-12-2005, 11:50 AM

[ QUOTE ]
How are you going to deal with tougher games in the future?

Be patient and only sit in games that are better than average?
Limit the amount of poker you play?
Move down in stakes?

The poker boom is slowing, the number of new players and gambling types is now dwarfed by the number of players who are trying to play well.

The big difference that I see?
The boom has changed the perception of poker from that of a gambling game into one that requires skill.

This is bad for anyone who enjoys winning when they play poker. If everyone is trying hard to win it's going to be a much tougher proposition.
Now many new players play micro-limits online instead of testing their luck at 10-20. Or maybe the tried 4-8 a few times and lost, and so now they're learning the game online.

How are you going to deal with it if your winning game is slowly overcome by a lack poor players, the rake, and variance?

[/ QUOTE ]

Do you have any proof of these happenings, or are you just assuming everyone's passing you by ?

rwanger · #2 12-12-2005, 12:52 PM

I've been telling people that the games are getting harder, and they do seem to. But, when I look at my stats, you wouldn't know it. I seem to be doing as well, if not better than before, despite feeling like the games are harder.

I don't know why this is. I'm definately a better player, but I doubt that my own improvement is outstripping that of my opponents. I've been moving up in limits slowly, and now I have to think more and make more sophisticated moves to come away a winner.

Do you think it's possible that your EV against "decent" opponents could be greater than you EV against "below average" players...especially in NL?

Truly terrible players aside, I feel like I can put decent thinking opponents on hands more reliably, and thus, make better decisions against them. Plus in some cases, they might be MORE willing to make "huge calls" and try to bluff you when you actually have the goods.

And like it was mentioned above, this might mean playing a slightly looser brand of poker...

raze · #3 12-12-2005, 07:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Do you think it's possible that your EV against "decent" opponents could be greater than you EV against "below average" players...especially in NL?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think this is not only possible but probable. The way I see it, you need to adjust your style to account for every single player type. For example, I seem to be doing better against TAG's than LAG's because 1. Im a TAG and thus understand the mindset and 2. I cant seem to bring myself to call down w Ace-high or bottom pair vs. a LAG. Should you make the most money off the worst players? Yes, as long as you know how to approach and exploit each player type.

#4 12-12-2005, 08:29 PM

Derb it up and smoke the rag-tag-tags

#5 12-12-2005, 08:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The poker boom is slowing...

[/ QUOTE ]
Really?!

Roy Munson · #6 12-12-2005, 10:09 PM

I have been playing online for 6 years and the games have never been better than they are now.

Don't assume that the majority of new players are devouring the best poker literature and rigorously applying the concepts.

Even though sales of poker books have exploded I would be willing to wager that the majority of the books are only glanced over and not thoroughly read multiple times.

Without exhaustive study, experience at the tables and reviewing the game away from the tables it will be difficult to be a significant long term winner.

brick · #7 12-13-2005, 12:06 AM

before this thread get's too far off topic about whether the games will get tougher, just think about the question for a minute.

How will you handle it if the games get so tough that you no longer have an edge?

krishanleong · #8 12-13-2005, 07:19 PM

[ QUOTE ]

How will you handle it if the games get so tough that you no longer have an edge?

[/ QUOTE ]

Move down.

Krishan

brick · #9 12-13-2005, 12:16 AM

[ QUOTE ]
the games have never been better than they are now.

[/ QUOTE ]

if you say so. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ QUOTE ]
Without exhaustive study, experience at the tables and reviewing the game away from the tables it will be difficult to be a significant long term winner.

[/ QUOTE ]

you know, the other players don't need to be long term winners to make the game very tough. If the average player gets good enough we're all screwed.

MTBlue · #10 12-13-2005, 02:06 AM

I'm curious on why you are so pessimistic on the future of the game. I make plenty of money of good players. You just have to change you approach. The game is situationally dynamic, so learn more about every player. The variance will increase and winrates will go down but that doesn't mean there won't be winners and losers. I intend to stay above the curb.
At this point in time to the best of my knowledge, a wriiten optimal strategy has not been published. People will use different strategies in different situations and some of these strategies will be incorrect or exploitable. Those edges will be your profit.